‘Not another one’ cry shoppers as major discounter with 807 stores closes city centre branch for good
A MAJOR discount retailer with 800 stores has closed one branch for good.
Poundland in North Street, Brighton, shut its doors for the final time on Saturday with signs on the doors now telling shoppers the store is permanently closed.
Those wanting to buy discount homeware and DIY items will have to now shop elsewhere.
In its final weeks, Poundland Brighton had been selling items for 75 per cent off the normal price as it sought to flog as much stock as possible.
Shelves were empty on Saturday and staff could be seen taking down fittings in the store.
One fan said: “Not surprised there’s one up the road and one 10 min along the road.”
Another said: “I got good bargains in there the other day I actually paid a £ for things.”
While a third said: “Now down to one store. A few years ago there were five in Brighton.”
The nearest Poundland branches are in Western Road and London Road.
It is the second Poundland store to close this year after one at the Bay View Centre in Colwyn Bay, Wales, closed on January 5.
A spokesman for Poundland said: “The store closed on February 24 as sadly, we’ve been unable to renew the lease.
“It goes without saying we work hard to find other opportunities for colleagues in these circumstances and we have two other stores close by.
“We look forward to welcoming customers to those stores on London Road and Western Road which are both just a short walk away – they both carry much wider ranges than we could accommodate at North Street.”
Poundland also closed its branch at the Chineham Shopping Centre near Basingstoke on New Year’s Eve.
Elsewhere, Poundland was set to pull down the shutters on its site in the Sailmakers Shopping Centre, Ipswich.
But, Poundland, owned by Pepco, announced it would open 75 stores by Christmas.
In October, it took on 71 former Wilko sites after its rival collapsed into administration.
n December, Poundland’s boss Austin Cooke said the retailer had experienced “amazing” trade across the acquired former Wilko sites.
He added: “People are really chuffed we are opening up in their towns.
“You can’t deny times are tricky for many and the cost of living situation is having an impact, but it just gives us more and more reason to give outstanding value.”
Meanwhile, a man who nabs chocolate from a wheelie bin outside a Poundland has insisted it tastes better “when it’s free”.
He regularly goes “dumpster diving”, as it’s called Stateside, near UK shops, and uploads videos of his hauls on his social media pages.
Shoppers have also been heading to Poundland to nab £1 Fabulosa’s dupes that ‘smell exactly like’ Sol De Janeiro’s £22 cult cream.
Nothing screams summer more than the iconic Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Crush Cheirosa 62 mist – and if you love lathering your body in the stuff, you’ll be thrilled to know that you can now cover your home in it too.
Poundland has been approached for comment.